Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-23
THROUGH DEsPONDENCE,
VIM. Carleton Takes am over.
dose of Morphine.

VIM. Carleton Takes an OVcr-
dose of Morphine.
William Carleton, who has been stop
ping at the st. Charles Hotel for some
time past, was found dead in his bed at
10 o'clock yesterday morning by
Stephen G. Lsson. the manager OF the
house. 1t appears that some months
ago the deceased came to this part of
tth State from Low ell, Massachusetts,,
aud that prior to that time he had been
engaged in business and owned home
in Spencer. He went to the St. Charles
Hotel on or about the 2Sth of May and
since that time has been there, but has
made it a point to pay his bill every
day. Recently he was having a good
deal of trouble and at one time said he
would get out of the way. He did not
tell what his trouble was, however, but
be seemed to be restless and very much
discouraged, especially as he was lame.
He had retired to his room at an early
hour on Tuesday night and yesterday
morning when he did not arise at the
usual time MIR. Lasson looked over his
transom and saw him lying on the bed
dressed. The door was opened and on
chair at the head of the bed was found
vial containing morphine. In his
wallet were found the following un.
finished letters, which indicated the
state of his MIND:
Los ANGELES, Cal, June IA, 1857.
Dear Brother Geddis and all the bal.
ance of the folks, there in Mass. / was
SO glad to get letter from you once
more and know that you was yet living
aud as you say in poor health and glad
that your family are as well as they
are. 1 know from Emma that Lizzie
health is very poor and am sorry.
Los ANGELES, June. 1887.
Dear Brother S. II. Geddis: Your
very kind letter was received and was
50 glad to hear from you and more and
know that you are well and that you
haven't entirely forgotten me. | am
here and in a bad fix. / am sick and
have been for the past 2 weeks no
friend or any one to look after me. |
have been pretty good man but am
for me and amnot now the man once
was. | blame no one but myself for
the fix | am in but it wont be long /
shall be here. my time is short now
on this earth as moving creature about
drawing to q close. There is no one
cares for me any more Emma hasnot
treeted me as she ought still / cant blame
her very much. She has tryed TO do
the best she could or what she thought
| was for the best but we have both
made great mistakes during our lifes
and now you sc how we are situated. She
is there and hope hapy with her friend
and am way out here sick and alone
and don't care to live eny longer. l am
the one that is the most to blame. am
satisfid terable fool when / mortgaged
the home in Spencer and ever came to
this county but at the time though. il
was all rite but now l know it was all
rong and tbs worrying me to Death
and has got me nearly crazy think
ing about it. the cash we have
inv ested here cant get back
1t appears that everything for several
years has worked against US. The time
was when it was otherwise, but that
time, l guess, has passed. l think
am in my dotage. l am nearly crazy
anyway. l have no comfort at all,
either day or mite. 1t is think and
think, and what does it amount to
Nothin. Oh, dear; l must stop and ly
down, for l am not able to set up longer
Will try to finish this tomorrow. Sc
good mite. God bless you all.
In the wallet were also found Letters
from his wife, Emma A. Carleton, iron
Lowell, Mass, which encouraged hin
and which showed that she took tht
deepest interest in his welfare and of
fered to help him in anything ne nigh
undertake. There was also found al
agreement TO purchase lot in one o
the towns hereabout, drawn in favor o
Emma A. Carlton. There was also
bank book, with an account of S425 il
the Los Angeles County Bank, where i
was ascertained that the money had al
been drawn. He had upon his person
S25, and that was probably all that b
had left to live upon.
An inquest was held by DIR. MEREDITH
yesterday afternoon, and the evidenc
thereat was similar TO the above, iron
which the jury came to the CONCLUSION
that he had died from an overdose O
: morphine, taken with suicidal intent
DIR. Meredith telegraphed to Mrs. Carl
: ton yesterday afternoon, but receives
no reply.
1